Drift mode for electronic handbrake

Abstract

Systems and methods for braking a vehicle. The method includes receiving, with an electronic controller, a signal from a mode activation mechanism indicating the vehicle is in a first mode and receiving, with the electronic controller, a signal from an input mechanism. If the vehicle is in the first mode and an operator of the vehicle actuates the input mechanism, the electronic controller sends a signal to a brake of the vehicle to lock up a wheel of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A braking system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a brake configured to be applied to a rear wheel of the vehicle; 
 a mode activation mechanism; 
 an input mechanism; and 
 an electronic controller configured to:
 receive a signal from the mode activation mechanism indicating the vehicle is in a performance mode, 
 receive a signal from the input mechanism from an operator of the vehicle, and 
 when the vehicle is in the performance mode and the operator actuates the input mechanism, send a signal to the brake to lock up the rear wheel of the vehicle, 
 
 wherein the electronic controller is electrically connected to a brake pedal sensor, and 
 wherein the electronic controller is further configured to actuate a brake of a front wheel of the vehicle in response to receiving a signal from the brake pedal sensor, the signal indicating that the operator of the vehicle is repeatedly pressing a brake pedal of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. A braking system comprising:
 a rear brake configured to apply, to a rear wheel of a vehicle, a braking force that locks up the rear wheel; 
 a mode activation mechanism configured to output, from the mode activation mechanism, a status signal that indicates whether a performance mode of the vehicle is active or inactive; 
 an input mechanism configured to output, from the input mechanism when an operator actuates the input mechanism, an actuation signal that indicates an actuation of the input mechanism; and 
 an electronic controller that is electrically connected to the rear brake, the mode activation mechanism and the input mechanism in a manner that permits the electronic controller to:
 receive, after the electronic controller receives the status signal from the mode activation mechanism, the actuation signal from the input mechanism, 
 determine, after the electronic controller receives the actuation signal from the input mechanism, the performance mode, and 
 control, when the electronic controller determines from the status signal that the performance mode is active, the rear brake to apply the braking force in a manner that causes the rear brake to lock up the rear wheel, 
 
 wherein the electronic controller is electrically connected to a stability sensor in a manner that permits the electronic controller to ignore, when the performance mode is active, a signal from the stability sensor. 
 
     
     
       3. The braking system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to:
 send, to a separate electronic controller in the vehicle, a signal that disengages a clutch of an engine in the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       4. The braking system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to:
 send, when the signal from the stability sensor indicates an unsafe condition, a signal to actuate controlled braking of at least one wheel of the vehicle other than the rear wheel. 
 
     
     
       5. The braking system of  claim 4 , wherein the unsafe condition is a condition from the group consisting of an excessive speed of the vehicle during a drift, an unsafe body angle of the vehicle, and a panicked driver behavior. 
     
     
       6. The braking system of  claim 5 , wherein the panicked driver behavior is customizable by the operator. 
     
     
       7. The braking system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is electrically connected to a brake pedal sensor in a manner that permits the electronic controller to:
 receive, from the brake pedal sensor, a sensor signal indicating that the operator is repeatedly pressing a brake pedal of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       8. The braking system of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic controller is electrically connected to a brake pedal sensor in a manner that permits the electronic controller to:
 actuate, in response to the signal, a brake of a front wheel of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       9. The braking system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to:
 control, in the absence of the operator actuating the input mechanism, the rear brake in a manner that inhibits the rear brake from locking up the rear wheel. 
 
     
     
       10. The braking system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to:
 control, when the electronic controller determines from the status signal that the performance mode is inactive, the rear brake in a manner that inhibits the rear brake from locking up the rear wheel. 
 
     
     
       11. A method for braking a vehicle, the method comprising:
 outputting, from a mode activation mechanism to an electronic controller, a status signal that indicates whether a performance mode of a vehicle is active or inactive; 
 outputting, from an input mechanism to the electronic controller when an operator actuates the input mechanism, an actuation signal that indicates an actuation of the input mechanism; 
 receiving, by the electronic controller after the electronic controller receives the status signal from the mode activation mechanism, the actuation signal from the input mechanism; 
 determining, by the electronic controller after the electronic controller receives the actuation signal from the input mechanism, the performance mode; 
 controlling, by the electronic controller when the electronic controller determines from the status signal that the performance mode is active, a rear brake to apply a braking force in a manner that causes the rear brake to lock up a rear wheel; 
 applying, by the rear brake, the braking force to the rear wheel of the vehicle that locks up the rear wheel; and 
 ignoring, by the electronic controller when the performance mode is active, a signal from a stability sensor. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending, from the electronic controller to a separate electronic controller in the vehicle, a signal that disengages a clutch of an engine in the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending, by the electronic controller when the signal from the stability sensor indicates an unsafe condition, a signal to actuate controlled braking of at least one wheel of the vehicle other than the rear wheel. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the unsafe condition is a condition from the group consisting of an excessive speed of the vehicle during a drift, an unsafe body angle of the vehicle, and a panicked driver behavior. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the panicked driver behavior is customizable by the operator. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the electronic controller from the brake pedal sensor, a sensor signal indicating that the operator is repeatedly pressing a brake pedal of the vehicle, and 
 actuating, by the electronic controller in response to the signal, a brake of a front wheel of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 controlling, by the electronic controller in the absence of the operator actuating the input mechanism, the rear brake in a manner that inhibits the rear brake from locking up the rear wheel. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 controlling, by the electronic controller when the electronic controller determines from the status signal that the performance mode is inactive, the rear brake in a manner that inhibits the rear brake from locking up the rear wheel.